I think I'm the only parent who could not care less about DC learning multiple languages

[Anonymous]

There I said it. Anonymously, because I can't dare utter that among my mom friends -- who would tsk tsk at me as if I just announced that dc is going to forgo elementary school entirely in favor of watching TV all day.

[Anonymous]

I think you should start caring. Do you want your kids to grow up not being able to speak Spanish or Mandarin? Hispanics will be the largest demographic in this country by the time our kids are adults. I think you are putting them in a bad place.

[Anonymous]

I am embarrassed every day that I have forgotten the only other language in which I was fluent (which I admit would not be too helpful these days). I can't tell you how much the 2 years of Latin in middle and high school helped in med school. What a boon it would be at work to be able to talk to my Spanish-speaking patients without a translator!

Don't narrow your kids' horizons. Take advantage of that window when they can learn languages easily.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I agree with OP. Languages are not a priority in our family. We are more into music and general academics and don't want to overload our kids outside of school (although, we'll try to see what the kids are interested in as the grow up). And we both work in international organizations! Don't bother to say 'shame on us' - we don't care what others think.

[Anonymous]

My parents emphasized languages and international travel. So, I grew up, moved away, and have spent the last 20 years traveling for my job. Sure makes raising kids hard.

So, yes, I'm exposing my children to foreign languages. But I refused to consider WIS for school, because I didn't want DCs going down the same path that I did. I'd rather they have a broader skill set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So, yes, I'm exposing my children to foreign languages. But I refused to consider WIS for school, because I didn't want DCs going down the same path that I did. I'd rather they have a broader skill set.

PP, I'm curious to hear more about this. Are you saying that WIS doesn't encourage a broad skill set? It's too early for us to apply for schools for DC, so we haven't toured yet and really don't know much beyond the WIS website and what's said here. I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this.

[Anonymous]

I'm with OP. Of course, my children study foreign languages in school (not Spanish, French) but it isn't a priority for us. I don't have problem with the fact that some people care a lot about this, we just don't. And I agree that we shouldn't be judged.

[Anonymous]

I care, but until the schools can get it right -- WIS and immersion programs notwithstanding -- it's simply a waste of time and money. It's almost as if the schools throw it up there because they don't have the courage to not offer a language. Once people get inside, they see the disappointing truth. I've yet to hear someone from the schools you regularly see on here brag about the success of their language program.

[Anonymous]

My husband swears that, other than immersion schools which we were not interested in, the best way for a person to learn a foreign language is to go live in a foreign country with a (native) family (exchange program) for a year. We are going to look for summer exchange programs for our kids once they are in highschool based on his philosophy. the little bit of Spanish the y have learned in their twice weekly school's prgram will help them know the names for things but will not help with fluently speaking.

[Anonymous]

I think its fine "Not to Care" about your child learning a language, just like its "fine" not to be interested in music, art or sciencem or math.

Your kids will form their own interests and maybe love language without your involvement.

That said, the world is a big place and the US is changing. In our children's lifetime, minorities will be the majority in the US and I think it is reasonable as a parent to view learning language as something that will prepare your child for the future and a diverse society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband swears that, other than immersion schools which we were not interested in, the best way for a person to learn a foreign language is to go live in a foreign country with a (native) family (exchange program) for a year. We are going to look for summer exchange programs for our kids once they are in highschool based on his philosophy. the little bit of Spanish the y have learned in their twice weekly school's prgram will help them know the names for things but will not help with fluently speaking.

yes, that'd be great for speaking, but not reading or writing. it takes years or dedication to read and write, which in my mind should be the ultimate goal of knowing another language.

[Anonymous]

The way we look at it, foreign languages are the one subject area that one cannot just casually "pick up" - if you don't start young, you will not be able to speak another language with a good accent or acquire fluency (unless you prove to be gifted at languages, as some people are). With math and science, you can pick them up at any time, and tutoring can make a difference if necessary. Not the case generally with languages.

While we're all free not to be interested in particular things, the OP's views are why the US is on the decline internationally IMHO -- we expect everyone to speak English, we evince very little interest in other peoples and cultures. No wonder we run up huge trade deficits - who'd want to buy from people who don't have the basic decency/manners to be interested in/knowledgeable about their customers? No wonder our foreign policy seems to stumble -- we can't communicate with the peoples of other countries in part because we don't care enough to bother learning their languages. Just imagine for a minute how effective/useful other countries' embassies here in Washington would be if their staffs didn't speak English and couldn't be bothered to learn? That's basically the condition of our embassies in many countries.

Nevertheless, OP, you're in good company on this list, judging from some of the other posts. We see it among our friends too. We're glad for our son's sake we've taken a different approach.

[Anonymous]

Hang on - not speaking another language doesn't mean you don't care or have an interest in other cultures or countries. It's not possible to learn all languages, anyway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The way we look at it, foreign languages are the one subject area that one cannot just casually "pick up" - if you don't start young, you will not be able to speak another language with a good accent or acquire fluency (unless you prove to be gifted at languages, as some people are). With math and science, you can pick them up at any time, and tutoring can make a difference if necessary. Not the case generally with languages.

While we're all free not to be interested in particular things, the OP's views are why the US is on the decline internationally IMHO -- we expect everyone to speak English, we evince very little interest in other peoples and cultures. No wonder we run up huge trade deficits - who'd want to buy from people who don't have the basic decency/manners to be interested in/knowledgeable about their customers? No wonder our foreign policy seems to stumble -- we can't communicate with the peoples of other countries in part because we don't care enough to bother learning their languages. Just imagine for a minute how effective/useful other countries' embassies here in Washington would be if their staffs didn't speak English and couldn't be bothered to learn? That's basically the condition of our embassies in many countries.

Nevertheless, OP, you're in good company on this list, judging from some of the other posts. We see it among our friends too. We're glad for our son's sake we've taken a different approach.

I'm so glad for your son too. Thank goodness that your parenting values will end the trade deficit! I mean, how did I ever get this far in life without knowing that the trade deficit is a result of people not wanting to buy products from us because we don't have good manners.

Thank goodness for good people like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hang on - not speaking another language doesn't mean you don't care or have an interest in other cultures or countries. It's not possible to learn all languages, anyway!

Actually, I disagree with you PP because it's hard to learn about another culture, other than on the surface, without knowing the language of the culture. Of course it's not possible to learn every language, but as someone who started learning foreign language #4 at the age of 40, it's not unreasonable for kids to graduate high school reasonably fluent in one foreign language -- kids in most foreign countries do this as a matter of course with a minimum of fuss. Heck, kids in some of the Scandinavian countries come out of school speaking 3-4 foreign languages, without sacrificing knowledge in other subject areas.